Traction sprayer



Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES 'rRAo'rIoN SPRAYER Frank R. Elliott, Ashland, Ohio, assigner to The F. E. Myers and Bro. Company, Ashland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application July 17, 1936, Serial No. 91,166

2 claims. f (ci. 299-46) 'I'his invention relates to spraying devices, and in particular, to traction sprayers which operate .automatically as the sprayer is moved.

Another object is to provide a traction sprayer vhaving a frame thereon for adjustably supporting the spray-nozzles, and arranged to permit adjustment of the spray nozzles both vertically and horizontally so as to adapt their positions to the plants or other articles being sprayed.

Another object is to provide` a traction sprayer having a multiple nozzle arrangement associated therewith, whereby one nozzle directs a spray downwardly in a vertical direction upon the article being sprayed, and another pair of nozzles directs a spray upwardly in an oblique direction v so that the article is sprayed both from above' and from beneath, on both sides thereof.

Another object is to provide a multiple nozzle arrangement of the type just described, wherein the sprayer is equipped with a frame having means for adjusting the multiple nozzle arrangement vertically and also preferably horizontally, in order to adapt it to the distance between the rows of plants or other articles being sprayed.

Another object is to provide a traction sprayer having a multiple spray nozzle arrangement adapted in one position to dispose the nozzles in position for spraying plants or other articles, and in another position to be folded so as to occupy a very small amount pf space.

In the drawing: y A

Figure 1 is a rear elevation in perspective of the traction spraying device of this invention, showing one of the multiple spray nozzle arrangements in position for spraying a plant,'and the other multiple spray nozzle assembly in its folded position.`

Figure 2 is a front elevation in perspective of the traction sprayer shown in Figure 1, but with a single nozzle mounted on each side of the machine, at the front thereof, in place of the multiple nozzle assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the traction sprayer shown in Figure 1, showing a pair of multiple nozzle assemblies in position for spraying a double row of plants or other articles. In general, the traction sprayer of this device consists of a. tank mounted upon wheels which are drivingly conncted to operate a pump as the sprayer is advanced, as by a horse or a tractor. The pump thus operated withdraws iiuid from the tank and pumps it, by way of a cushion chamber and a combination valve, to a spray nozzle.

Referring to the drawing in detail, Figures 1,

2 and 4 show the traction sprayer of this inventon as consisting of a base frame I0 having a forwardly extended portion II for attachment to a horse r tractor, as by a connection made through the hole I2 therein. Mounted upon this 5 base frame I0 are journals I3 (Figure 3), having overhanging portions I4 adapted to protect vthe journals I3. Mounted for rotation in the journals I3 is an axle I5 having wheels I6 on the 'opposite ends thereof. The wheels I6 are remov- 10 ably mounted upon the ends of the axle I5 in such a manner that they may be taken oif and replaced inside the base frame I0 between the opposing journals I3. In Figure 1 the outer position of the wheels is shown in solid lines, desig- 15 nated I6, and the inner position in dotted lines, designated 16a. By this arrangement the tread of the machine is narrowed to such an extent that the sprayer may be employed in very narrow spaces between rows of plants or other articles 20 arranged closer together.

Mounted on the axle I5 is a sprocket I1 (Figure 1) engaging a sprocket chain I8, the opposite end of which passes around a driven sprocket I9. The driven sprocket I 9 (Figure 1) ,is mounted 25 upon a countersha'ft 20 supported in a pivoted shaft hanger 2|, having pivot bosses 22 arranged to move pivotally upon the pivot rod 23. The latter is secured between the frame uprights 24 and 25 rising from the base frame I0. An addi- 30 tional frame upright 2B rises from the opposite side of the base frame Il)V from the upright 24. The free end of the shaft hanger 2l is provided with an adjusting 'screw 21, which passes through the shaft hanger 2| and engages the frame cross 35 member 28 (Figure 1). Consequently, when the adjusting screw 21 is turned the free end of the shaft hanger 2| is moved in one direction or the other, thereby tightening or loosening the sprocket chain I8 byl varying the distance be- 40 tween the axle I5 and the countershaft 20.

Mounted upon the opposite end of the countershaft 20 from the sprocket I9 is a pulley 29 having a belt 30 arranged to drive a pulley 3I upon the agitator shaft 32. 'I'he latter is journalled, 45 as at 33, (Figure 3) in the side wall of the tank 34 and carries on its inner end` an agitator adapted to agitate the contents of the tank 34 asthe traction sprayer advances. The agitator may consist of paddle blades adapted to perform this agitating function. Mounted on the end of the countershaft 20, adjacent the sprocket I9, is a crank -36 (Figure 1), having a crank pin 31 extending outwardly therefrom and engaged by the crosshead 38 oi' the pump plunger 39 of .55

the pump, generally designated 40. The fluid pumped by the pump 40 passes into` the connection 48 having the terminal 49 of the uid pipe 50 secured thereto,

To the lower end of the pump barrel 43 is lsecured a head 60 to which the supply pipe 64 is tached to the air chamber 13.

mounted, as by the bolts 14 (Figure 1), upon attached. The head 60 is pivotally mounted at its lower end upon a pivot pin 61 supported by the bifurcated bracket 68 having its base portion secured to the base frame I9. The opposite end of the supply pipe 64 is attached to the tank 34, whereas the opposite end of the pipe 50 is at- The latter is the upper frame cross member 15 secured to and 4extending between the vertical frame members 24, 25 and 26.

With the pump 40 in operation the fluid passes from the tank 34, through the pipe 64 and the pump 40 (Figure l), into the pipe 50, and thence into the air chamber 13 as the wheels I6 rotate the axle I 5 and cause the crank pin 31 to reciprocate by the intermediate action of the sprocket chain I8 upon the sprocket I9. The fluid pumped into the air chamber 13 leaves it through the connection 93 and passes through the pipe 94 to the control valve, generally designated 95. Beyond the control valve 95, the fluid passes into the Y-connection 96 and the pipes 91 (Figures l and 3) to the discharge pipes 98. The outer ends of the discharge pipes 98 may be connected either directly to the nozzle tips 99 (Figure 2) or to the multiple nozzle arrangement, generally designated |00, consisting of the four-way connection I0| having a nozzle tip |02 attached to one branch thereof and the pipes |03 attached to two of the remaining ports of the four-way connection |0I. The Aremaining port of the connection |0I is attached to the end of the discharge pipe 98, and the-outer endsv of the pipes |04 terminate in the obliquely directed nozzle tips |05.

The discharge pipes 98 are supported in clamps ||0 mounted upon the vertical frame uprights III. By loosening the set screws ||3 the discharge pipes 98 may be moved horizontally, and by loosening the set screws ||4 the entire spray nozzle assembly may be moved vertically along the uprights |I| (Figure 3). 'I'he tank 34 "is supported upon a cross member ||5 extending between the obliquely directed frame members IIS. The latter terminate at their upper ends in the handles II1, and intermediately are interconnected by the frame cross member 15. The lower ends of the frame members IIB are interconnected by the axle I I8, upon which is mounted the wheel ||9. The frame uprights I I I are additionally interconnected by the horizontal frame member |20, from which the members I2I (Figures 1 and 2) extend rearwardly to the member |22 surrounding the illling aperture of the tank The tank 34 rests in a cradle formed by the straps |24 attached at their lower ends to the frame cross member I I5 and at their upper ends to the frame cross member 15. The rods |25, secured at their opposite ends to4 these same members and passing over the top of the tank, hold the tank securely against the straps |24.

The operation of `the traction spraying device as a whole is self-'evident from the operation which has been described in connection with its various parts. A horse or a tractor is attached to the front portion I I of the base frame, and the traction sprayer is caused to advance between the rows of plants or other articles to be sprayed. The nozzles are properly adjusted, according to the particular arrangement of plants to be sprayed. The rotation of the wheels I 6 then operates the pump 40 through the intermediate action of the sprockets I1 and I9, the sprocket chain I8 and the crank pin 31 on the crank 36. The pump pumps the fluid from the tank 34, through the pipes E4 and 50, to the air chamber 13, where the pulsations of the pump are eliminated. The fluid passes onward through the pipe 94, into the valve 95, and thence through the connection 95 and flexible pipe 91, and discharge pipe 98 to the various nozzles. Meanwhile, the agitator shaft 32 is rotated by the same action, and maintains the contents of the tank 34 in a thoroughly mixed condition, thus preventing settling of any solid ingredients which may beI employed in the fluid. y

In the event that the plants or other objects to be sprayed are placed in rows so close together that the normal position of the wheels I6 will not permit the sprayer to pass between the rows, the wheels I6 may be removed from their position on the outside of the base frame I0 and placed on the inside, in the manner shown in dotted lines I6a in Figure l. This is done by removing the axle |5from its journals I3 and sprocket I1, placing the wheels I5 within the base frame I0 and then replacing the axle I5 and tightening the various wheels and sprocket I1 thereon.

When high plants are to be sprayed the horizontal pipes |03 of the triple nozzle unit |00 can be folded into a vertical position and the vertical nozzle pipes |04 folded alongside it into the position shown at the left-hand side of Figure 1. In this arrangement the nozzles are set to spray outwardly at vertically spaced locations so that a plant of considerable height can be thoroughly sprayed. In this manner the sides of high plants facing each other in adjacent rows can be sprayed at a single passage of the machine. The spray zones in this arrangement are indicated by the dashed lines in Figure 1. This foldable arrangement of the nozzle pipes also enables the machine to be made more compact while in transit and not spraying. This vertical arrangement of the nozzle unit |00 is provided by means of a pivotal connection between the pipes |03 and I 04 consisting of the double elbows |03 and |04, interconnected by nipples (not visible). The nozzles |05 are similarly connected to the pipes |04 by the double elbows |04b and |059. In order to place the pipes |03 in the vertical positions shown in Figure 1, the elbows 98a are preferably removed and the pipes 98 threaded directly into the four-way connections |0I. Then the pipes 98 may be moved inward, past one another, by loosening the set screws H3, as in Figure 2. This brings the now vertical pipes |03 to a position closely adjacent the uprights III.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the lnvention.

Having thus fully4 described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination in a traction sprayer, a frame, wheels on said frame, `a tank, a pump, mechanism adapted to operate said pump, an upright attached to said frame, a discharge pipe adjustably mounted on said upright, a nozzle pipe with a spray nozzle connected to said discharge pipe and positioned to spray downwardly,

pipe with a spray nozzle connected to said discharge pipe and positioned to spray downwardly, a pair of spaced nozzle pipes mounted'on the first nozzle pipe and having spray nozzles spaced apart from said rst spray nozzle and positioned to spray upwardly in opposite oblique directions, means for folding said pair of spray nozzle pipes relatively to the spray nozzle pipe on which they are .mounted to direct said nozzles toward differently disposed locations, and means for supply- 10 ing fluid simultaneously to said nozzles.

FRANK R. ELLIo'I'r. 

